Battery construction



May 2, 1933. E. D. FINN 1,907,420

BATTERY CONSTfiUCTION Filed July 30, 19:50 3 Sheets-Shet 1 INVENTOR ATTORNEYS May 2, 1933.

E. D. FINN BATTERY CONSTRUCTION Filed July 50, 1930 3 Sheet s-Sheet 2 Edward D. FMS

ATTORNEYS May 2, 1933.

E. FINN BATTERY CONSTRUCTION Filed July so; 1950 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 L INVENTOR Edward D. Firm WWW Arroausm Patented May 2, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE EDWARD D. FINN, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOB TO DETROIT TRUST COMPANY, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN, A CORPORATION OF MICHIGAN, TRUSTEE BATTERY CONSTRUCTION Application filed July 30,

This invention relates generally to battery construction and consists of certain novel features of construction, combinations and arrangements of parts that will be hereinafter I more fully described and particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

Referring now to the drawings: Figure 1 is a fragmentary side elevation of the battery;

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the battery; Figure 3 is a fragmentary vertical sectlonal view through the battery;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken on the line 4 -4 of Figure 2; Figure 5 is a fragmentary top plan view of one cell of the battery;

Figure 6 is a fragmentary top plan view of an end cover section per se;

Figure 7 is a top plan view of the intermediate cover section;

Figure 8 is an enlarged fragmentary elevation of one of the partitions;

Figure 8A is an enlarged fragmentary elevation of the other partition.

Figure 9 is a side elevation of the cover section illustrated in Figure 7;

Figure 10 is a sectional view taken on the line 1010 of Figure 7 Figure 11 is a sectional View taken on the line 11-11 of Figure 7.

Referring now to the drawings, 1 and 2 respectively are the end walls; 3 and 4 respectively are the side walls; and 5 IS the bottom wall of a battery casing. 6 and 7 respectively are spaced partitions extending upwardly from the bottom 5 of the casing and dividing the latter into three cells or chambers A, B and C respectively; 8 are negative plates and 9 are positive plates alternately arranged within the cells A, B and O and separated by suitable strips 10 of non-conducting material such as wood or rubber; 11 are lugs extending upwardly from the upper edges of the negative plates; 12 are lugs extending upwardly from the upper edges of the positive plates; and D, E and F respectively are cover sections resting upon lateral shoulders 11' and 12 respectively and closin thecells A, B and C respectively. As s own, these sections D, E

1930. Serial No. 471,771.

and F are provided centrally with the usual vent plugs G, H and I respectively. Preferably the cover sections D, E and F are provided adjacent opposite ends thereof with transversely extending channels 13 and 14 respectively that are in vertical alignment With the lugs 11 and 12 respectively of the plates, and the partitions 6 and 7 are provided at their upper edges with upwardly opening substantially U-shaped recesses 15 and 16 respectively. As shown, the slot 15 in the partition 6 is in alignment with the channels 14 in the cover sections, while the slot 16 in the partition 7 is in alignment with the channels 13 in the 'cover sections. As illustrated in Figures 7 and 8 the bottom walls 17 of the channels 13 are provided at spaced points throughout their length with transversely extending slots 18 that receive the upper ends of the lugs 11, while the bottom walls 19 of the slots 14 are provided at spaced points throughout their length with transversely extending slots 20 that receive the upper ends of the lugs 12.

Located within the channel 13 in the cover section D is a bar 22 of lead that electrically connects the lugs 11 of the negative plates 8 and that is provided at the center thereof with an upstanding upwardly tapering post 23 that constitutes the negative terminal of the battery. As shown, this post 23 extends through an opening 23' in the cover section D. Similarly located within the channel 14 in the cover section F is a bar 24 of lead that electrically connects the lugs 12 of the positive plates 9 and is provided at the center thereof with an upstanding upwardly tapering post 25 that constitutes the positive terminal of the battery. This post 25 extends through an opening 25 in the cover, section F. A bar 26 of lead is located within the channels 14 in the cover sections D and E and in the slot 15 in the intermediate partition 6 and electrically connects the lugs 12 of the positive .plates 9 in the cell A to the lugs 11 of the negative plates 8 in the cell B, and a similar bar 27 is located within the channels 13 in the cover sections E and F and in the slot 16 in the intermediate partition 7 and electrically connects the lugs 100 12 of the positive plates 9 in the cell B with the lugs 11 of the negative plates 8 in the cell C. Preferably these bars 22, 24, 26 and 27 respectively are covered by a compound 28 which is also used to seal the joints between the cover sections D, E and F respectively and the upright walls 1, 2, 3 and 4 respectively of the casing. Thus with this construction the top surface of the battery is substantially fiat and smooth. The only projections are the lead posts 23 and 25 respectively and the vent plugs G, H and I. The bars 22, 24, 26 and 27 respectively constituting the electrical connectors between the plates in the respective cells are located beneath the top surface of the battery and are entirely concealed. Preferably collars 29 and 30 respectively of bakelite are pressed upon the posts 23 and 25 respectively and have prongs 31 and 32 respectively extending into the compound 28. The bakelite collar 29 is preferably black, while the collar 30 is preferably red as indicia that the posts 23 and 25 are negative and positive respectively.

In the process of construction the lead constituting the subject matter of the bars 22, 24, 26 and 27 respectively is poured in a molten state in the channels 13 and 14 and grooves 15 and 16 and at this time the posts 23 and 25 respectively are formed by suit- -able molds (not shown). In this connection it will be noted that the side walls of the channels '13 and 14 respectively project beyond the beveled edges 28 of t e top sections D, E and 'F in such a way that the opposite end portions of said side walls effectively prevent the molten lead from overflowing from the channels onto the beveled edges. It will alsobe noted that the edges of the slots 15 and 16 are provided with channel grooves 34 and 35 respectively that receive the lead when it is poured into the channels and slots so that the lead in these channels 34 and 35 form seals and eifective- 1y prevent the electrolyte from passing from one seal to another. The bakelite collars 29 and 30 respectively are pressed downwardly upon the posts 23 and 25 respectively be fore said posts become cool, and the compound 28 is then poured over the bars 22, 24, 26 and 27 and around the edges of the cover sections D, E and F to eifect the proper seal.

Thus from the foregoing description it will be readily apparent that the lugs of the positive and negative plates project through the bases of the channels 13 and 14 respectively and are electrically connected in such a way by the lead bars that only one material is required to establish the connection and such material may be poured in one operation to make such connections. In other words, the negative plates of one group in one cell and the positive plates 0 the adjoining group in the next cell are connected together in one operation with the same material at one time. This obviously results in a tremendous saving of labor and material in the construction of batteries. This arrangement also makes it possible to utilize the group connectors as part of the cell connectors. Such arrangement also enables the connectors just mentioned to be insulated and concealed by the compound which forms the acid or electrolyte seal.

Due to the construction herein described a saving of more than two pounds of lead on a thirteen plate battery has been effected. For instance, in this construction it is possible to eliminate fourteen parts which have heretoforebeen molded and utilized in battery constructions. Such parts eliminated comprise six molded posts, two cell connectors and six lead collars or screw nuts. In lieu thereof only two bakelite molded collars have been substituted. Moreover, the use of a burning rack has been obviated.

The eflicienoy and capacity of the battery has been materially increased. For instance, the length of the circuit is reduced,- hence the resistance is decreased. Because uniform material is used to establish the electric connections referred to above no internal resistance is set up. All group connectors and cell connectors are insulated, hence the conductivity is increased. Due to this construction there are no exposed electrical parts except the positive and negative posts Which are spaced remotel apart, hence it is practically impossible to o tain a short across the top of the cover when it becomes moist or dirt With this construction the plate groups in t e respective cells may be readily removed for repairs or replacements by merely cutting the lead connectors 26 and 27 with a hot knife and melting or otherwise removing the compound about the cover sections. Thus it will be apparent that an extremely eflicient and practical battery has been produced.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. A battery having adjacent cells and an intermediate partition, said partition having a slot therein, plates in said cells having lugs, cover sections for said cells having channels in alignment with said slot and provided in the bases of the channels with slots receiving the lugs aforesaid, an electrical connection between the plates in said cells including lead extending longitudinally'of the channels in said sections about and fused to said lugs within and closing said slot and sealing compound in the channels above the lead, the construction and arrangement being such that the upper surfaces of the compound and cover sections are substantially flush.

. 2. A battery having a cell, plates in the cell, a cover section for the cell having beveled edges uponwhich sealing compound isadaptand having an intermediate portion located ed to be poured and provided with a channel having means for receiving molten material for connecting together certain of said plates, the side walls of said channel pro- 5 jecting beyond the beveled edges aforesaid to stop molten material from overflowing from the channel onto the beveled edges.

In testimony whereof I aflix m signature.

EDWARD FINN. 

